Shelby County corrections officers, deputies may get training bonus

June 29, 2016 - With Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell (middle) listening, County Commissioners Steve Basar (left) and Eddie Jones (right) work on balancing the budget during a special called meeting of the full commission to finalize and approve a county budget before the fiscal year ends on June. 30., in the commission chambers at the Vasco A. Smith Jr. Administration Building. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)(Photo: Mark Weber)

A Shelby County Commission committee endorsed a proposal Wednesday to pay corrections officers and deputy jailers an additional $400 each for in-service training.

The resolution from Commissioner Eddie Jones would create a program to supplement the pay of certified officers and sheriff's deputies at the Correctional Center for mandatory training. The commission could vote on the resolution as soon as Monday.

The program would cost the general fund $500,000 annually — $318,000 for deputies and $182,000 for corrections officers — beginning in the current fiscal year, Jones said.

Chief Operations Officer Harvey Kennedy said the administration was blindsided by the proposal and asked for a delay to allow for a full investigation of the plan's ramifications, including any impacts to long-term budget planning and the pension system.